1 2019 Adult Softball League Rules

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Parks and Recreation • 100 Lockville Road, Pickerington, OH 43147 • ph: 614-833-2211 • fax: 614-833-2201 • www.pickerington.net

2019 Adult Softball League Rules Rule 1

Weather Line: 614-833-2205 (press 2) between 4:00 - 5:00pm daily. Managers are asked to supply the Weather Line number to all players. When possible, the pertinent information will be available by 4:00pm. There will be times when a decision will have to wait until later afternoon; in those cases, the operative decision will be made by 5:00pm. After 5:00pm, if there is a late cancellation, it will be made by the umpires at the playing site. The decision to play or to cancel is a function of the league coordinator, who also oversees the continuing condition of the playing fields. Please do not call the Parks and Recreation Department for updates.

Rule 2

Use of Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department Facilities Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, reckless driving, parking cars out of designated areas, littering and unbecoming conduct are prohibited upon the grounds. Violations of this rule may result in ejection, indefinite suspension, forfeit or loss of team franchise.

Rule 3

Forfeits Any team that forfeits three games will be dropped from the league and will lose its franchise. NO REFUNDS!! All games on that team’s schedule will be forfeited to their opponents.

Rule 4

Rosters and Eligibility A. Roster forms must be filed with the Parks and Recreation Department by Tuesday, April 23 at 5:00pm. Rosters must include all players’ first and last names, home address and phone number. If managers are players, they must be listed as a player. B. All players must be 18 or older by first game. C. Any player classified by the USSSA as a C, B, A, AA, or Major player is ineligible to play in a Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department League, unless the player is a City of Pickerington resident. D. Roster may have 25 players maximum. All players in excess will be ruled ineligible. E. A player can be a member of only one team in the same league. A player is considered a member of the team with whom they first participate. F. Additions or deletions to rosters must be made in writing and signed by the manager. No players will be eligible to participate in a game unless their name has been legally added to the team’s roster by 5:00pm the day before they are to participate. No roster updates will be permitted the day of the game or on-site. Roster changes will be accepted through the third game of the season. The only exception will be due to season-ending injury or pregnancy and must be accompanied by a written doctor’s statement and approved by the Parks and Recreation Department. G. Players may request a transfer to another team prior to their present team’s third game. Transfer request must be approved by the Parks and Recreation Department and will be considered for legitimate reasons, only. A player may be required to secure a signed release from the manager.

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H. A player must have played in at least three regular season games to be eligible for a post-season league tournament or city championship tournament. (Note: Managers should list the first initial and last name of players on the scorecard.)

Rule 5

I.

Playing an ineligible player is considered a serious infraction of league rules. Managers and players are subject to suspension if they resort to such unsportsmanlike conduct. Penalty: First Offense – two game suspension; Second Offense – one year suspension from all Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department adult sports leagues and revocation of team franchise.

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Church League Honor System: All players should be members of that church, or attend that church on a regular basis, or be invited to play through that church’s outreach program.

General Playing Rules *USSSA rules will be used except where noted herein. A. Five minute grace permitted for the 6:15pm game only. B. If the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department scheduled umpire is not present for a game, an individual acceptable to both managers may be chosen who shall have the same authority as the scheduled umpire. Acceptance of the individual (whether verbal or in writing) is binding after the first pitch of the game. C. Lineup cards must be properly filled out (first initial and last name) prior to the start of the game. D. A team may insert one or two Additional Hitter(s) into its starting lineup prior to the game. The batting order must remain constant; however, any 10 of the 11 or 12 players can take a defensive position throughout the game. *Note exception: Co-Ed Rule: R-1. E. Re-Entry: A starter and their substitute may re-enter the game an unlimited number of times for each other. The starter and substitute must occupy the same batting position and may not be in the lineup at the same time. F. A minimum of nine players can start or continue a game. A tenth player may be added to the tenth batting position any time before the end of the game. Any team that starts a game with 10, 11 or 12 players may drop to the minimum of nine players to finish the game. All vacant spot(s) in the lineup will be declared an out every time that batting position is due to bat; however, no out shall be declared if a team starts and continues with nine players. G. METAL CLEATS ARE PROHIBITED. Penalty: Player is ejected from the game and batter/runner wearing metal cleats is declared out. H. One courtesy runner per inning will be permitted. I.

Three over-the-fence home runs per team, per game are permitted. All fair, untouched, fly balls over-the-fence in excess of the limit will be ruled an out – ball is dead and no runners can advance.

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The batters are out if they have a second strike, or if they hit a foul ball after one strike (no free foul). The batter is awarded first base when the umpire calls three balls.

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K. The run rule awards a win to a team that has a 15 run lead after 4 completed innings or 3 ½ innings if the home team is ahead, or a 10 run lead after 5 or more completed innings or 4 ½ innings if the home team is ahead. L. Double Bases: The purpose of the double base is to provide a safety margin between the batter runner and the first baseman. Follow these guidelines: 1. On the initial throw from the infield or the outfield the batter-runner must use the orange portion of the base. 2. The defense can only use the white portion of the base to obtain an out. 3. A batted ball hitting the orange base is foul. 4. When no throw is being made to first base, the batter-runner can touch either the white or orange portion of the base with initial contact. 5. If the base runner uses the orange base anytime after the initial contact he/she is considered off the base. 6. This rule is in effect only on the initial play at first base that does not include: running to the base after over running, or re-tag to advance on a fly ball. M. Base Running – Collision: It is the greater responsibility of the runner to avoid collision. Intent is not a factor. 1. The collision rule does not apply when the base runner is sliding. 2. When a player avoids a fielder who is illegally blocking the runner, the runner will be declared safe. Even though he/she may not have reached the base. 3. The penalty for colliding with another player is: • Runner is out. • Runner is ejected. • Ball is dead. • All other runners must return to the base last touched at the time of the collision. N. Base Running – Courtesy Runner: One courtesy runner per inning (one time) may be used. The courtesy runner can be any player in the lineup. If the courtesy runner is on base at the time of his/her turn at bat comes up, that spot in the batting order will be an out. In the Co-Rec Leagues, any male player in the lineup can run for any males and any female player in the lineup can run for any female. O. No new inning in a scheduled 6:15pm game will start after 7:25pm unless the game is the last scheduled game on that diamond that day. P. Profanity Rule: The umpire shall assess one profanity out against the offending team (both offense and defense) for the use of loud profanity. The umpire may eject the offender for serious violations. The profanity out is assessed on the batter, who is to receive the next pitch. If the profanity occurs after the third out of an inning, the out will be assessed on the offending team’s next at bat. There can be only one profanity out assessed against a team per play. Q. A player may only be on one roster per league. R. League Play: All teams will be scheduled 8 regular season games. The top four teams will be compete in a single elimination tournament to determine league champion. 1. Tie breakers for tied records will be head to head matchup, then run differential for all games completed. 2. There will be no more than 3 rain make-up dates. S. Co-Ed Rules: 1. Legal lineup combinations: • 5 males and 4 females

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5 males and 5 females 6 males and 6 females Other possible combinations where teams may have more females than males are permitted.

If Additional Hitters are used the batting order must remain constant; however, any five of the six males, and any five of the six females may take a defensive position throughout the game. 2. Male and female players must alternate in the batting order. A male player must occupy the first position in the batting order if a team starts with five males and four females, and a female player must occupy the first position in the batting order if a team starts with five females and four males. If a team starts or continues with five males and four females, an out shall be declared between the ninth and first batting positions. A fifth male or female may be added to the tenth batting position any time before the end of the game. 3. A 12-inch softball will be used throughout the game. 4. When a male batter receives a base on balls or intentional walk, he will be awarded first and second base with the next female batter having the option to walk or bat. Rule 6

Protests A. The intention to protest – a rule based on alleged misinterpretation or misapplication of the playing rules – must be made known by the manager or captain of the protesting team to the umpire before the next legal pitch, intentional walk, or illegal pitcher action. B. A formal protest must be made in writing, accompanied by a $25 protest fee, and filed with the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department within twenty-four hours of the date of the game in question (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded). Postmarks are acceptable. C. The Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department shall rule on protests. When a protest is sustained, the game shall be replayed from the point of the protest with the decision corrected. D. Eligibility protests will be resolved on the basis of records on file. Any manager has the right to protest the use of an ineligible player. The player(s) in question must present positive identification to the umpire, or sign the scorecard and list their address and phone number. All games in which the ineligible player(s) has participated in will be forfeited to the opponents.

Rule 7

Unsportsmanlike Conduct A. Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated before, during or after a game and may result in ejection from the game and indefinite suspension from the activities conducted by the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department. Penalties imposed at the end of the season will carry over to the following season. B. A game ejection followed up by an umpire’s report may result in further disciplinary action being taken by the Parks and Recreation Department. C. Players and managers will be suspended for one year from all Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department adult sports leagues for participating in a game while under suspension.

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Rule 8

Franchise The franchise of a team belongs first to – the manager; second – the sponsor(s) of the team; and third – a majority of the team members. The manager has the authority in any question that might arise between a team and the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department. Any attempt to manipulate a franchise or registration form to gain a spot in our leagues will result in dismissal of the team from the program.

Rule 9

Waiver of Rules Experience has proven that it is impossible to anticipate all problems, which may arise when rules are formulated and adopted. Therefore, the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department reserves the right to waive any rule governing play in any league or tournament under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Department when in its judgment the application of said rule will result in gross unfairness or unreasonable hardship.

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